“We have seen the accounting,” declared another member of the war chief’s troupe. “It was very clear. Four payments of two hundred thousand apiece, paid into two accounts controlled by the A’Jah and two by the Y’Hua. That is great deal of credit. It has not been used to support the action against Deyzara or for anything else. It just sit and wait.” Hands rested on knees, claws fully extended. “As do we.”
Without waiting for permission from Hata or elder, a noted fighter spoke up from the back of the crowd. “Do the A’Jah and the Y’Hua think to become wealthy on blood of the P’Kei? By my ancestors, I vow such a thing will not happen!” His disrespectful outburst was echoed by many of those bunched up behind Sesesthi-toa and the other ranking warriors.
Aniolo-jat worked fast to dampen the rising anger that threatened to shift from discussion to outright hostility.
“You say you have seen accounting for these vast sums of credit. Where did this accounting come from?”
The elder seated in the suspension chair next to Sesesthi-toa sported a streak of bright gray fur running the length of his body. “From special branch of the company Poutukaa. The payments to Y’Hua and A’Jah accounts were authorized by Geladu-tiv himself. When I go to inquire about them, he not available, but I was shown the relevant record-makings by a Sakuntala fiduciary. They said that the money was paid for ‘services rendered.’ ” His fur, a gunmetal blue as well as gray, bristled. “What services have Y’Hua and A’Jah rendered to the Commonwealth Administration that they have not seen fit to tell their friends among the S’Toa, the P’Kei, the D’Sie, and the M’Rou about? Services that are worth eight hundred thousand Commonwealth credits.”